Shifting Gears

Lately, I have been motivated to try and shop more locally.  My focus has been on organic as being healthier, but I am also concerned about conserving gas, wear and tear on the car PLUS knowing where to get food locally in the case the JIT system breaks down (grin).  Having been a small business owner myself, I really prefer to give my money to a small-town business owner, instead of a big corporation.  I am trying to stay out of Walmart, and can't remember the last time I went (a month ago?) to one.  PD#1 needed new "unmentionables".  We didn't go to Walmart, but to a local San Antonio store for them.  I was very proud of myself.  They were having a great sale too ;-)


Sometimes the prices are higher, but I pay them.  If I drove into town for the item, I'd have to add the cost of fuel into it, and it'd be the same or higher.  Thursday is my errand day and it normally looks like this:

1) Stop by bank and withdraw amount to spend (I don't like to use the card at the stores but pay cash, often I can get a cash discount, especially on fuel purchases at the locally owned oil company (they sell gas about 25 cents cheaper than the gas station, and I get an additional discount when paying cash).  We buy our kerosene here also.  We use kerosene for our oil lamps, and for the heater when the temps are in the 30s and below.  We have the wood stove, but it doesn't heat the back bedroom, and that is the coldest room.


2) Stop by post office

3) Dairy for raw milk, sometimes Farmhouse Cheddar if I haven't made cheese.

4) Meat Market for American Cheese/Mild cheddar.  These are in slices for sandwiches.  My last hold out that isn't organic because I can't get it local. 

5) Poultry farm for a few chickens cut into pieces, instead of whole roasting chickens.  (this is normally a once a month expense)

6) Oil company for gas/kerosene

7) Produce Stand or local farm for produce.  Today I purchased produce at the local grocery store, which I have been trying to stay out of.  I went for one item today, and they have a NEW organic and local produce section.  It's small, but I was very excited.

8) Library

9) Local Mexican/Jalisco Bakery for awesome tortillas (sometimes I make my own, but I like to support this baker).  and sometimes doughnuts.

We did head into S.A. yesterday to pick up my beef order.  I had ordered 25 lbs of organic, grass fed beef from a somewhat local to me (about 50 miles) rancher.  He raises Longhorn cattle and sells the beef through the San Antonio RealFoods group.

Lately, I am also interested in reducing our electrical energy consumption.  After reviewing our energy consumption for the month I was shocked to see that we used 1286 KWH.  I reviewed our history for the year and not surprisngly we use the most during July and August, the two hottest months of the year.  But I was happy to see that last year at this time we used 300 MORE kWH than this year.  Two things I think are a factor is our new pump (it's smaller, so uses less electricity and we aren't irrigating and filling the pond) 2) it isn't as cold, so we haven't used the little space heater in the bathroom very much.  I think we'll keep it off UNLESS someone is bathing.  I have the wood stove going now, and the bathroom door open, so the heat can filter into there.

My goal for this month is to lower the kWH usage by 40 kWH.  This will be the start.  My goal is to cut our useage in half IF possible.  We seriously need a solar or wind source of energy to run the well pump.  I already hang my laundry out, only using the dryer if something is really needed and it's raining (which isn't often here).  I asked everyone to leave the lights off if they are watching t.v., to unplug the laptop when charged, and only plug it in when it needs charging.  I'll be turning off the desktop computer and internet modem tonight when we go to bed, and plan to do so every night.  It will be inconvenient waiting for everything to power up the next morning, but my goal for the month of December is to lower our useage at least a little.  I want to see if we can do it...I thought we would have used less energy, because we only have a 360 sq foot cabin, no central air or heating, no hot water heater on all the time (we have a Tiny Titan) nor a big oven or stovetop or dishwasher, but I'll have to check what the average useage is for most Americans and see if i am up there or not.

We moved the chicks to the chicken tractor tonight. It isn't going to be as cold tonight, and they needed more room.  They are growing fast.  Speaking of chicks, one of the BABY pigs killed one of my older Buff chicks (she was 3 months old).  I could hardly believe that the piglet chomped it and started eating it.  I was very SHOCKED!  I took it away from her and she fought with me over it.  I think she is the one we'll butcher...

I recently purchased six cases of pint jars from an estate sale.  They were $5.00.  I was very glad to get them.  A friend also picked up three cases of quart jars for me at Dollar General.  They were 50% off!  So, $4.25 a case!  I plan to start canning more soups and such so the jars will come in handy ;-)

It's Time for the Give Away!

By putting the names in a hat and having my 2 year (impartial participant) draw a name - the winner is......

Canning Turkey Stew

Apple/Onion Stuffed Turkey

After Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, I promptly filled my roaster to the top with filtered water.  I let it simmer for 12 hours+.  Getting up this morning and making my stew.  I had planned to can up several quarts of stock, but realized I'd never use it BUT already made soup!? That would be a better idea.  I put in two of my cans of green beans, two of corn, sage, parsley, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and all the miscellaneous turkey bits that came off of the carcass, plus the larger chunks of white meat turkey I had taken off of the turkey yesterday.

I've been processing the quarts all day.  Nine quarts, 1 pint.  I had my first blow out though.  After processing the first batch I could clearly smell turkey.  I KNEW a jar had broken.  Thankfully, it was just the lid.  I must not have had it on correctly.  I add some water to the rest of the broth in the jar, wiped it really good, and am re-processing it last.

PH put up 14 rafters today.  The price of wood is higher, so he wasn't able to get the 28 like he needed. It will have to wait until next weekend.

I've been washing all day, and cleaning up (as much cleaning as you can get in such a small space with no storage).  My 2 1/2 year old loves Scooby Doo, and so I have been listening to him watch his few DVDs all day.  I keep running him outside to play in the sunshine, but pretty soon I hear the "click click" of the mouse as he puts the DVD in and hits play..  Pretty smart boy!

Here are a few pictures of our holiday and canning:

Processing the Turkey Stew

Turkey Stew

Cornbread cooling to make the dressing, and peanut butter cookies with a Hershey Kiss

Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I wanted to take this time to thank the Lord for His wonderful gift of family, His generous provision and granting me the motivation to learn new skills and to truly listen to His promptings.  Whenever I get discouraged I read Proverbs 31, and it reminds me that while others may think we are crazy for the way we live our life, there is a reason.  Whether it be economic collapse, social unrest, or the rise of the NWO prior to Christ's return, I am confident He is leading me towards a closer walk with Him, and preparing our family for safety and security in a troubled world.

PH and I have been busy (PKs too).  We built a pen to house our beloved Rottie.  She is such a good dog, but has unfortunately been led down than a less than righteous path  by one of our "pups".  Sassy was born to a stray that adopted us named Sophie.  Sassy is just like her name.  Full of sass, very lovable, BUT an instigator when it comes to the killing of chickens, kittens, chasing horses and attacking goats.  She gets Baeta (Rott) so worked up that Baeta, acting outside her character for the past six years, has changed from a trustworthy dog to a livestock killer.  We just cannot have her kill our food sources, so she has been relegated to a kennel, and Sassy has found a new home.   During the day while the livestock (horses, goats, chickens, pigs, calf) are roaming the pastures she is contained.  At night, when the livestock is penned up to keep them safe from coyotoes (and Baeta) we let her out to roam our homestead (along with our Pyr).  She is very much a guard dog, having been trained in security and we love Rottweilers.  The best dog breed we have ever owned.  We are hoping through patience and rehab (and Sassy's absence) that Baeta will once again return to her former trustworthy self.  If not, she'll spend her days in a kennel instead of roaming free to protect the homestead.

Today was a very relaxing day.  PH attached the brackets for the rafters on the upper roof today.  He is preparing to pick up a load of lumber tomorrow, in order to complete the rafters.  PD#2 was invited to a friend's for the Thanksgiving meal.  My meal was relatively simple to prepare, and I felt no rush or anxiety.  I am thankful for my new herbal medications and teas that are allowing me to get plenty of rest, and helps with my stress levels.  Last night I washed and set up the roaster, cleaned the kitchen and made a batch of cornbread to use in the cornbread dressing/stuffing.  (I grew up saying stuffing, PH's family says dressing).  So fancy like ;-)

I went shopping yesterday at Whole Foods to get ingredients for my pie (chocolate cream pie).  My mom always made this using Jello pudding and Cool Whip.  Because of my healthier eating practices I don't eat Jello but made chocolate pudding, and found an Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten Free (for PD#1) Cool Whip substitute called "Tru Whip".  I was skeptical about the taste, but no one could tell a difference!  I was very happy.  I had the rest of the ingredients for my meal as I had purchased a turkey after last Christmas and it was in the freezer.  I put it in the roaster, stuffed the cavity with onions and applies, basted the skin with olive oil and rubbed sage into it.  I cooked it on low for 4 hours and it was THE best turkey I've had in awhile.  Came out PERFECTO!  I also made mashed potatoes with gravy (for me), corn, rolls, sweet/dill pickles, olives, carrots and dressing.  Everything either organic or I canned it myself.  Even the stock I used in the dressing!  I was so proud of myself.  I have been preserving more and more food this year, and it has really helped.  Our food bill has been cut to pay for lumber, and recently our food animals.  It is a sacrifice, and has been very difficult to come up with delicious meals from my food storage.  I am really tired of wild meat and goat.  I'd love a good steak (sigh).  I opted for buying a calf and raising it myself instead of purchasing a small share of beef for the same amount.  So, unless PH approves more funds for a side of beef after Christmas, we will be beef-less until the calf is butchered.

My turkey stock is bubbling away.  I plan to let it simmer all night, and then will can it tomorrow, as well as, get laundry done.

PH and I are considering purchasing turkey poults after Christmas (in March) to raise to sell and to have for our freezer. 

PH is off until Monday, so once he is finished with the rafters, I am hoping we can secure the garden once again, because those darn goats have eaten it ALL.  I was able to glean 2 little radishes tonight.  PS#2 was tickled pink, as they came out of  "his" garden area.  I did notice that my leaf lettuce is struggling to come back, along with the pumpkins.  Barring a freeze, they should make it IF we get the goats under control.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Psalm 95:1-6
"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." (KJV)

Freedom Rangers

We had ordered 25 Freedom Ranger chicks to raise for our first meat bird experiment.  They arrived last Thursday AT the post office in a box....

Chicks in a box

Surprise! They are alive!

 

 

A few of the chicks - there are 26 in all.

We have been busy shuffling animals around, stacking hay and basically winterizing (for South TX) our little farm.  The dogs are now running loose (not desirable, but we need to build a pen for them), the calf and piggies are in the former dog/goat pen.  This leaves the goats without shelter from the rain, which is going to make them VERY upset.  

The new chicks are in the chicken tractor in the barn, until tomorrow when we will put them in the girls playhouse with a heat lamp...it is supposed to be in the 30s and 40s the rest of the week, through the weekend.

Our church family met here for a bonfire Friday night.  It was really awesome.  We are doing discipleship training, working on our relationship(s) with God and each other.  It was a wonderful time of sharing our testimonies, child hood memories and other ways that God has validated our walk with Him.  Really touching and inspirational.  

Our congregation is also helping a homeless family.  Please be in prayer for this family of five (two parents and three kids).  We are working on housing for them, and one of our member's has offered the husband a job in their company.  Another family we know will be hosting them for Thanksgiving.  It is really great to be able to help.  I believe this marks the distinction between Christians and non-Christians.  Christians will help even when we ourselves don't have much.  I am sure some non-Christians would, as there are some basically "good" people, but many will just pass the needy by.  I am thankful to be able to be in a position to do what I can, as are others in our group.  

We had our first Homeschool Market Days this past weekend also.  The PDs worked hard on their items for sell for two solid weeks.  They showed a remarkable work ethic, and I am very proud of them.

 I'll have to add more pictures later, Blogger is acting up tonight.

Our Weekend in Pictures

Picking up Pecans with Big Brother

 PS#2 picking up MORE pecans

PS#2 opening the gate for Mama

 Back view of house - ready for rafters

Pretty good for a pay as you go plan

 Chicken coop with new chicken yard behind 

(you can barely see the wire fencing I put up around the trees)

Chickens in their new yard

 Gate with sticks woven in the wire to make openings smaler

New back door to coop so chicks can get inside at night
We are putting a hinge on the little door so we can shut it at night

Feeding the horses - our nightly routine

This is Selena our Quarab

More pictures to come later!

Chickens, Pigs and Cows - Oh My!

We had three of our chicks killed by our dog.  I was so sad!  They made it to 2 months old without casualty, but I let them out to free range in front of the barn a little, and they went into the dog kennel - dumb birds!

We lost 2 Americaunas, and 1 Buff Orpington.  We are now down to 19 birds ( 8 Americaunas, 9 Buffs, and the 2 chicks we hatched from the incubator, and they are 10 weeks old and MEAN!  They are part Buff and part Banty, and did I mention MEAN!  They will rush the fence and try to fight and peck.  They must be roosters!

I'll be working on cleaning out the coop this weekend, and hopefully getting the wire fencing up for the new chicken yard.  Once that is done, the "plan" is to order 25 Freedom Ranger (meat birds).  These will be in a brooder for a couple of weeks, and out in the tractor during the nice part of the day.  I'd love a chick room, like a friend of mine has...basically a permanent chicken nursery.  Some day (sigh).

We pick up our calf next Saturday.  He will be 6 weeks old by then.  I believe we will still have to bottle feed him.  I am not looking forward to that task.

We will also be getting our piglet soon.  I must work on the pen for it.  Not sure if it is a boy or girl yet.
This week has been busy.  We have been in a flurry of activity from schoolwork to errands to stacking wood.  We had really cold temperatures this week from 35-41.  We used the wood stove each evening so far, and had to use the kerosene heater last night as it dipped into the 30's.   Wow! It's only early November.  This does not bode well for the Winter.

I managed to can my chicken stock this week.  I will have more to do because my anniversary gift (beautiful Americauna rooster) went to chicken hell this week, and his carcass is in the freezer.  He attacked my 2 year old one too many times and PH had to blast him one.  PS#2 was very shaken, and is still wary of walking in the yard.  He hightails it for the nearest person when he sees the hens.  I've given him the job of tossing feed to the hens, so maybe he'll get over the trauma.

House progress is still ongoing, and I am getting very excited.  I can hardly stand myself!